Microphone mount



Sept. 9, 1952 M. RETTINGER MICROPHONE MOUNT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 17. 1948 Mi fidel 1%??? /MA/ ATZURZVEK S p 1952 M. RETTINGER 1 MICROPHONE MOUNT Filed June 17, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN VEN TOR.

\ W/KWM ATZURJVEK Patented Sept. 9, 1952 MICROPHONE MOUNT Michael Rettinger, Encino, Calif., assignor to- Radio Corporation of America, a corporation or Delaware Application June 1'7, 1948, Serial No. 33,493

3 Claims.

l 1 This invention relates to suspension means and particularly to a resilient and shockproof mountfor sound pickup equipment such as microphones. This application is a continuation-inpart of application, Ser. No. 756,192, filed June 21, 1947, now abandoned.

In the art of sound detection for either public address, sound reinforcing, or sound recording systems, microphones are employed, these microphones being particularly Sensitive to both sound waves and external mechanical movements. it is necessary that they be mounted so that they may be moved by rotation or by tilting in the direction of the sound Source without haviiig the movement introduce extraneous sounds in theci' cuit. Spring and rubber band mountings have been previously employed which are generally heavy, bulky, unsightly; and difiiicult to maintain, the present invention being directed to a, simplified mounting which prevents vibrations of the supporting structure or boom from introducing noise in the" circuit. Resilient materiai, such as medium softirubber, is used and which is in theiorm oione or more annular rings with u--shapsd cross' sections. The mount not only particularly eiiicient to shockproof the microphone; but also provides a pleasing and neat appearance. v

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the mounting of a sound pickup device.

Another object of the invention. is to provide an improved mounting structure for a sound pickup device".

A further sweet of the invention is to provide simple, light weight,- and. eflicient shockproof mounts for a microphone.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out particularity the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by seferr'i'ng. to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a microphone mount embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mount shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View, partially in cross-section, of the mount shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a. detail of the mount taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partially in section, of another modification of the mount.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 and. taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the upper end of the mount shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now to the drawings in which identical numerals identiiylike" elements, a U-s'haped yoke, shown generally at 5, has a cross member 6 and leg members 1 and. 8, the ends of the legs being drilled to accommodate bolts to having wing nuts II. The cross member 6 may be mounted on a rod [3 which may be on a stand or the end of a boom, the attachment being made simply by inserting the. threaded bolt H in a hole in the member 6 and tightening the member 6 by means of the nut [5, between which and the member 6 is a washer IS.

The principal element of the mount is. a soft rubber annular ring. 20 having a U-shaped crosssection, the inner and outer flanges 23 and. 2'6, respectively, of which are bonded to fiat metallic or aluminum rings 21 and 22, respectively. The ring 2! is then. attached to a microphone mounting ring 24 by any suitable means, such as by three screws 25, the ring. 24 being split and the ends adjustable by a screw 28 iii order to attach the microphonefiniily iii the mount, the outline of one type of microphone being shown by the broken 1ine's 29. As shown Fig. 4, the holes in the ring 2'4 are larger diameter than. the diameter of the screws 25. To fasten the microphone in the ring, the screws 25 are first loosened, the screw 28 then tightened to tighten the ring on the microphone, and the screws 25 then tightened. The microphone has output conductors encased in a cable 30' which may be attached to the leg 'l'hy a spring clip 3|.

The outer supporting ring 22 has attached thereto a yoke mounting 32 in. an suitable manner, such as by screws 33, the ring 32. having the threaded bolts Ill attached diametrically opposite one another so that the mount may be attached to the yoke t and. tilted in any desired position. w A

The above described structure: provides par ticularly eihcient insulation for the microphone from vibrations introduced in the yoke 5 by the microphone boom or other supporting structure, as well as providing free suspension of the microphone. The resilient ring 20 permits free longitudinal, transverse and rotational movements within predetermined limits, while the entire mount is simple, economical, easy to maintain, and neat in appearance.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, and '7, a modificathe latter being shown in cross-section to indicate that the'hea'ds'50 of screws are embedded in the rubber along the axis of the blocks. The screws 5| pass through a, hole in one of the legs I of yoke 43, and a, hole in one of the side support members 53 and on which nuts 54 are threaded. The other blocks 45, 4B, and 47 are a "attached or mounted in the same manner, a rod 56 passing through holes in yoke 43 and members 53 mid-way between the blocks, the rod being held in position by nuts 51. This filter thereby insulates shocks in the yoke 43 from the upper microphone mounting structure.

Referring now tow the mounting structureat the upper ends of members 53, these members have holes through which bolts 60 and 6| pass and on the ends of which are threaded knurled finger nuts 62 and 63, respectively. A split microphone supporting ring 65 with a tightening screw 66 similarjto ring 24 and screw 28 is attached .by screws such as shown at 68 to two flat rings 13 and H to which are bonded the flat surfaces of the inner flanges 12 and 13, respectively, of the two U-shaped rubber rings 40 and 4! The flat surfaces of the outer flanges and 16 of the rubber rings are bonded to two flat rings 11 and 18, respectively, these rings being attached by straps 80, 8! 82, and 83 and screws 84 to pivot blocks 19 through which the bolts 60 and 6| pass. I

To providetilting and a locking action, fiber or similar types of washers 86 are interposed between blocks 19 and washers 81, the latter having ears 88 which are accommodated in holes or notches in the upper ends of members 53 so the washers 81 r0tate with members 53. These washers are on the pivot bolts 60 and 6|. Thrust bearings 90 of the ball bearing type are provided between members 53 and nuts 62 and 63 to create the desired locking friction on the surfaces of Washers 86. This type of bearing prevents the tightening and loosening of nuts 62 and 63 when bolts 60 andGl are rotated by rotation of blocks 19 into which the bolts are threaded and which rotate with the tilting of the microphone. Cover strips or bands 92 and 93 surround the unit and are attached to pivot blocks 19 by screws 94.

The modification shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, therefore, provides additional insulation for the microphone over that. of the first described embodiment and .is particularly desirable where heavier microphones are subject to shocks and sudden movements.

I claim:

1. A vibration mount comprising a plurality of resilient rings having U-shaped cross-sections and flanges, the surfaces of the flanges of each ring lying in the same plane and parallel with each other, pivot blocks having openings in alignment, flat rings attached to the surfaces of said flanges and to said pivot blocks for supporting an object, supports for said pivot blocks, and adjustable tensioning means associated with said supports and said pivot blocks, said supports including parallel members extending from said pivot blocks, a yoke with parallel members between thev parallel members of. said supports, resilient elements for interconnecting all of said parallelmembers, and means for supporting, said second mentioned parallel members.

2. A vibration mount in accordance with claim 1, in which said tensioning means includes frictional washers, threaded bolts in said openings,

nuts on said bolts; thrust bearings between said" supports and said nuts for varying the friction on the surface of said washers, and locking means for said friction varying means. I

3. A vibration mount comprising a yoke having a pair of parallel members, a second pair of parallel members, a plurality of resilient elements connecting said parallel members, said 'elee ments being in two pairs, eachpair having their axes in alignment, a, rod interconnecting all of said parallel members intermediate. said pairs of resilient elements and having its axis parallel with the axes of said elements, resilient, means mounted on the ends of said second pairof parallel members for'supporting an object, and means for supporting said second pair of parallel members.

4. A vibration mountin accordance with claim 3, in which said resilient means includes a pair of rubber rings having U-shaped cross-sections and fiat-surfaced flanges facing each other, adjustable means attached to certain of saidflanges for supporting said object Within said rubber rings, pivot blocks for attaching other of said flanges to said second pair of parallel members,

means for rotating said pivot blocks, means forv varying the friction at said pivot blocks, and means for locking said friction varying means.

5. A vibration mount in accordance with claim 3, in which said resilient means includes a pair.

of rubber rings having 'Ueshaped cross-sections and flat-surfaced flanges facing each other, ad; justable means attached to certain of said flangesv for supporting said object within said rubber rings, pivot blocks for attaching other, of said flanges to said second pair of parallel members, frictional washers between said pivot blocks and said parallel members, means for varying the friction on said frictional washers, and means for locking said friction varying means. 1

MICHAEL RE'ITINGER.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent: f

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wallerstein June 27, 1944 

